And then, they raided.

September 17, 2009, 10:39 PM

After photographing all the teabaggers around the Capitol, my day wasn’t over yet – not by a longshot. Anonymous had planned to raid on Saturday as well, and thankfully, the two demonstrations did not conflict. I finished getting my “daily dose of outrage” around 2:00, took the Metro from Union Station to Dupont Circle, and joined up with Anonymous to raid Scientology.

This was an unusual raid for me in one way – no mask or other form of costuming. Usually, I “mask up” for Anonymous “global” raids, even though Scientology has confirmed in writing that they know who I am. I usually wear the black or green zentai suit in warmer weather, or the standard Guy Fawkes mask. This time around, I brought a costume for raiding – I had the black zentai in my backpack, as well as the relevant accessories for it. But since I was already somewhat tired from the teabag protest, I basically said “screw it” and passed on the costume. I didn’t feel like changing in and out of the costume, and so I just came as I was.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. Anonymous needs people who are “out” and unmasked to function properly. I’m the one who files for the protest permits, since if Scientologists get their hands on the permit somehow, they don’t get any fresh information. And sometimes, members of the public are more likely to interact with non-masked people vs. talking to someone wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. I gave out all of my You Found the Card cards, for one thing.

Of course, what annoyed me about deciding to do this protest “straight” was that I’d been carrying around a zentai and everything else all day, and ended up bringing it all back home unused. And that kind of stuff does get heavy after a while.

We also had a whole bunch of new (masked) faces at this raid. We had an Anon from Atlanta who was visiting DC, an Anon visiting from New York City, as well as an Anon from Chicago. Plus we also had four brand new Anons that had never raided before, that hopefully will become regulars at our raids.

And of course, you know what they say – “pics or it didn’t happen” – and so here are pics.

Scientologists, including Founding Church of Scientology president Sue Taylor (center, with white hair) were out handing out their “Anonymous Frequently Asked Questions” flyers.

Three of our new Anons pose with their signs.

Our New York Anon holds up a sign done up to resemble a road sign.

Anyman went unmasked after learning that the Scientologists knew his name. He asked Sadie (aka “Camera Girl”) if she knew his name, and she confirmed it, telling him his first and last name right on the spot. He was like, “Yippee!” and tore his Guy Fawkes mask off in short order, and then demanded his cease-and-desist letter. We’ll see if he gets one. I got one, after all.

Much to my surprise, a group of teenagers, dressed in some sort of goth style, sat across 20th Street from our raid, and just watched. I invited them to come join us, but they stayed over there.

Then while we were raiding, Sadie went in and created a Gmail address especially for us to use to Email her, with the warning that if she starts getting porn on there, she’s going to stop checking it. Now if we can get Sadie to leave the cult and join our cause…

Meanwhile, after the city removed the white-painted bicycle that had been at the head of the triangle for more than a year (in memory of a cyclist who had been run over at that location), there were white bicycles all over the place, on every corner at this intersection…

I’m surprised that the original white bicycle lasted there as long as it did, but I believe that these new bicycles were placed in protest of the original’s removal. I think I would have let the memorial pass into history and moved on once the city removed it, but to each their own, I suppose. I personally think this new invasion of bicycles, allegedly to protest the removal of the original bicycle, cheapens the original intent of the memorial and dilutes its message.

And then afterwards, we hit up Bailey’s in Ballston. It was awesome as always, though it was a game night (college football), and we ended up getting seated at one of the pool tables, which had been covered over for use as regular seating. Amusing was what we saw when leaving the Metro, though:

“No smoking or loitering per Ted”. Okay. I suppose if this anonymous Ted person said so, it is so. The sign originally said “No smoking or loitering permitted”, but someone apparently had their way with the “mit” in the middle. Either way, though, it was amusing.

And there you are. I think I was finally finished for the night around 1 AM. I had quite a day on Saturday, wouldn’t you say?